September 6, 2013 | 9:57am ET

If the Senators aren't able to get restricted free agent defenseman Jared Cowen locked up to a new contract before training camp starts next week, they appear to be OK with it.

Senators assistant GM Tim Murray told the Team 1200 Thursday if the two sides don't have a deal by camp, the team is willing to move forward without him.

"We'd love have to him in camp but we played a lot of games without him last year," said Murray, as quoted by the Ottawa Sun. "Can we replace Jared Cowen? No, we can't replace him, but we certainly have guys in the organization that want a chance to play.

"If we can't get a deal done before camp, and he doesn't come to camp, that's what we draft for. I think we've done a good job, we're recognized around the league as drafting well and finding free agents.

"We showed last year with a lot of injuries to top, top players, we can weather the storm. That's not our choice but we certainly have shown that whether it's Jared or someone else we can weather that storm."

According to the Sun, the two sides are believed to be discussing a deal in the three-to-five year range after Cowen rejected an eight-year, $28 million offer last month.